Agnes Sanford was one in the first generation of speakers in the CFO movement. Her book, The Healing Light, clearly helped quench a severe thirst amongst Christians as its popularity crossed every denominational line. It remains in print today. The founder of the CFO, Glenn Clark, called the book, “… far more than a book on healing. It is a guide to redemptive, creative living.”
The Rev. Bill De Arteaga, (along with his wife Carolyn, now deceased) has worked in the Christian Charismatic Movement since 1978. Bill is known as a Christian historian and expert on revivals, and on the rebirth and renewal of the Christian healing movement. His books include Quenching the Spirit (Creation House, 1992), Forgotten Power: The Significance of the Lord’s Supper in Revival (Zondervan, 2002), and Agnes Sanford and Her Companions (2015). He is currently semi-retired, but continues teaching, speaking, and writing. Since the early 1980’s, Rev. Bill has been active in the Order of St. Luke (OSL), which encourages the healing ministry in all Christian churches and is an OSL chaplain for the state of Georgia, USA. Here we talk to Rev. Bill about his experience in CFO and in healing ministry.
INTERVIEW:
When did you first encounter Camps Farthest Out (CFO) and what did you immediately find helpful/useful/meaningful? I was doing research on Agnes Sanford in 1980 and noted her mentioning of Glenn Clark and the CFO. I found out about a CFO camp in North Carolina. My mother and I decided to attend. It was wonderful! We found the wholistic approach to prayer and the Christian life a breath of fresh air. The prayer groups were especially meaningful.
How has CFO enriched your life and your ministry in the Anglican Church and beyond? Whenever I conduct a healing workshop I try to incorporate what I learned from CFO. I incorporate listening prayer, healing prayer, and help the group to allow and create sacred space for the Holy Spirit to enter and be active.
How long have you been a member of the Order of St. Luke? What does OSL do? I began my life in the OSL in 1980 when my wife Carolyn and I joined a parish that had an active OSL chapter. After several years of participating, I became the chairperson. Following my ordination in 2000, I was nominated to be chaplain of the OSLs in Georgia, USA. Since then, I’ve continued to be active in this ministry as a chaplain and speaker.
The OSL was founded in the 1930’s (around the same time as CFO) as an Episcopal group to bring healing ministry to all churches. The OSL quickly became ecumenical in its membership and today, represents a wide range of Christian experience and expression. While CFO focused on the broader issues of prayer and living a wholistic Christian life, the OSL focused on expanding the healing ministry among mainline churches. In the 1930’s, 40’s, one found out about both CFO and OSL solely by word of mouth from friends who were involved.
Please describe the Holy Spirit guidance that led you to write a book about Agnes Sanford. Early in my charismatic life I learned of inner healing via the books of Ruth Carter Stapleton, and I assumed she had invented that ministry. I was corrected and directed to the work of Agnes Sanford who in fact pioneered the ministry of inner healing. I began doing extensive research on Mrs. Sanford, and quickly learned of the importance of the CFO in broadcasting that ministry to the mainline Protestant churches and to Catholic churches (via her friendship with Francis MacNutt).
I was writing a first draft of the history of inner healing when, the Holy Spirit called me to write Quenching the Spirit (1992,1996). I remain humbled at how the Holy Spirit has used this book, however, for editorial reasons, my defense of Agnes Sanford was edited out, as it was believed she was too controversial even among many charismatic Christians at the time. I was determined to write a separate work on Agnes Sanford and the CFO, but it was postponed by my years of parish ministry and another work the Holy Spirit called me to write, Forgotten Power: The Significance of the Lord’s Supper in Revivals (Zondervan, 2002).
I finished Agnes Sanford and Her Companions after I retired from parish ministry and it was published in 2015. I dedicate almost as much space in it to Glenn Clark and the CFO as I do to Mrs. Sanford.
Too often, healing is not prominent in many Christian circles. Do you have some guidance for those who are in need of healing, or are interested in the healing ministry but find themselves in a place where healing is not talked about often/at all? If you are in a church that has no healing ministry, please check out the Order of St. Luke (osltoday.org). For a small fee they will send you a selection of books on healing and a wonderful workbook on the healing miracles of Jesus. Small groups can work through these materials together and form intercessor/healing teams ready to serve your church community.